Many herbicides that control broadleaf weeds in wheat can antagonize grass herbicide efficacy, resulting in less grain yield due to competition. Also, the broadleaf herbicide carfentrazone-ethyl can injure wheat, leading to less grain yield because of physiological response. Experiments were conducted to evaluate carfentrazone-ethyl antagonism of fenoxaprop-ethyl, tralkoxydim, clodinafop-propargyl, imazamethabenz, and flucarbazone-sodium and injury to wheat with tank mixes of carfentrazone-ethyl plus each grass herbicide or thifensulfuron, tribenuron, metsulfuron, or imazamox. Carfentrazone-ethyl did not adversely affect control of wild oat or yellow foxtail by grass herbicides in wheat. Carfentrazone-ethyl alone caused 21% wheat injury 3 d after treatment. Adding flucarbazone-sodium to carfentrazone-ethyl resulted in the least wheat injury among treatments that included carfentrazone-ethyl. Fenoxaprop-P-ethyl or clodinafop-propargyl with carfentrazone-ethyl also resulted in less wheat injury compared with carfentrazone-ethyl alone, which was attributed to formulation safeners. Sulfonylurea herbicides provided safening of carfentrazone-ethyl similar to flucarbazone-sodium, while imidazolinones did not alleviate injury. Tralkoxydim plus carfentrazone-ethyl gave 28% wheat injury compared with 21% from carfentrazone-ethyl alone. Wheat injury was no longer visible by 20 d after treatment, and wheat yield was not affected by carfentrazone-ethyl injury when wild oat and yellow foxtail were present or controlled with herbicide.

Composted manure produced in deep-bedded hoop structures constitutes a source of nutrients and organic materials that can influence crop and weed emergence, growth, competitive interactions, and soil physical properties. The impact of composted swine manure on corn, soybean, winter wheat, velvetleaf, giant foxtail, and common waterhemp emergence and early growth were compared at compost rates of 0, 8, 16, or 24 Mg C/ha. Compost amendment had no effect on crop emergence but did reduce weed emergence. Inhibition of seedling emergence ranged between 15 and 57% for giant foxtail, 0 and 23% for velvetleaf, and 16 and 76% for common waterhemp. Soil amendment enhanced weed growth but not crop growth. A response surface regression analysis indicated that, while large-seeded crops have constant relative growth rates, small-seeded weed species increase their relative growth rates with compost amendment (P < 0.0001, r2 = 0.5252).

Wild oat is the most serious grass weed in Argentine barley crops and its control has concentrated on herbicide strategies. Increasing crop density could be an effective strategy to reduce the effect of wild oat on barley yield. However, limited research has been conducted to evaluate the effect of crop density on the competitive balance between barley and spontaneous populations of wild oat. A field experiment was conducted in 1992, 1993, and 1999, to study the effect of spontaneous populations of wild oat on barley sown at densities of 160, 220, and 280 plants/m2. Wild oat density averaged 84 plants/m2. Wild oat biomass increased linearly with weed density in all treatments but was reduced by increasing barley seeding rates. Barley biomass and yield were not affected by wild oat at high crop sowing densities, but for the low and medium barley densities, yield loss was almost 25% when 70 wild oat plants/m2 were established. Barley yield loss was mostly related to competition from the early emerged wild oat. The relationship between yield losses and wild oat density was equally significant when the whole population or only early emerged individuals of the weed were considered.

Wide-spread planting of glyphosate-resistant (GR) crops in the United States and glyphosate patent expiration has led to a proliferation of glyphosate products. Growers have questioned their advisors on efficacy and crop tolerance of the many products available. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate eight glyphosate products in 2002 and ten in 2003, representing isopropylamine, diammonium, and potassium salts, applied POST and postemergence-directed (PDIR) at 630 and 1,680 g ae/ha for GR corn and GR cotton tolerance and weed control. There were no differences among products for control of six annual grass and 10 annual broadleaf weed species. No injury to corn from any glyphosate product at 630 or 1,680 g/ha or to cotton from 630 g/ha was noted at any of seven locations. ClearOut 41 Plus™, an isopropylamine salt of glyphosate, and Roundup WEATHERMAX™, a potassium salt of glyphosate, applied POST at 1,680 g/ha injured cotton 27 to 30% and 10 to 17%, respectively, at 3 of 7 locations. No cotton injury was noted with Glyfos®, Glyfos® X-TRA, Glyphomax™, Gly Star™ Original, Roundup Original™, Roundup UltraMAX®, Touchdown®, or Touchdown Total™. No differences were noted among glyphosate products or between rates for corn or cotton yield or cotton fiber properties.

Experiments were conducted in North Carolina during 2002 and 2003 to evaluate entireleaf morningglory control by 2,4-DB applied alone or with seven fungicides. In a separate group of experiments, tall morningglory control by 2,4-DB was evaluated when applied in four-way mixtures with the following: the fungicides azoxystrobin, chlorothalonil, pyraclostrobin, or tebuconazole; the insecticide lambda-cyhalothrin; and the foliar fertilizer disodium octaborate or the plant growth regulator (PGR) prohexadione calcium plus urea ammonium nitrate. Pyraclostrobin, but not azoxystrobin, boscalid, chlorothalonil, fluazinam, propiconazole plus trifloxystrobin, or tebuconazole, reduced entireleaf morningglory control by 2,4-DB. Mixtures of fungicides, insecticides, and foliar fertilizer/ PGR did not affect tall morningglory control by 2,4-DB. Placing artificial morningglory in the peanut canopy when fungicides were applied did not intercept enough fungicide to increase peanut defoliation by early leaf spot and web blotch or reduce pod yield compared with fungicide applied without artificial morningglory.

Purple nutsedge management with herbicides (halosulfuron, imazaquin, MSMA, S-metolachlor, and sulfentrazone) and mowing was investigated in a bare ground homogenous purple nutsedge field site. Mowing at 5 cm increased control of purple nutsedge by 6% compared to not mowing. Sequential applications of halosulfuron, MSMA, and sulfentrazone provided at least 80% control of purple nutsedge shoots, whereas imazaquin controlled purple nutsedge shoots less than 65%. All herbicide treatments reduced purple nutsedge total and viable tuber densities at least 40%. S-metolachlor PRE reduced total and viable tuber densities 65 and 69%, respectively. Sequential applications of sulfentrazone or MSMA reduced total and viable tubers 80%. Early postemergence (EPOST) or EPOST followed by late-postemergence applications of halosulfuron and imazaquin reduced total and viable tuber densities 52 and 59%, respectively. Data indicate that S-metolachlor PRE and sequential applications of MSMA and sulfentrazone may be viable treatments for control of purple nutsedge shoots and tubers.

Yellow starthistle is an annual that is dependent on achene production, dispersal, and germination for stand renewal. Our purpose in this study was to determine the temperature relations for germination of achenes of this species. Germination temperature profiles were developed for achenes of yellow starthistle collected from 15 sites in California, Nevada, and Oregon. Each profile consisted of achene germination at 55 constant or alternating temperatures from 0 through 40 C. A total of 85 germination temperature profiles were developed by using the germination data to construct quadratic response surfaces through regression analysis. For most profiles, germination occurred at all the temperature regimes except a constant 40 C. This includes a constant 0 C and 0 alternating with 40 C. Rarely, there was no germination at 35 C and 35 C alternating with 40 C. The only evidence of afterripening requirements for achenes of yellow starthistle that we noted occurred at very cold temperature regimes. At those temperatures, the germination of dark-colored achenes without pappus increased 3 mo after harvest, and decreased for light-colored achenes with a pappus. No single temperature regime always supported optimum germination when all the profiles were combined. The most frequent optima was 2/20 C. Comparing all profiles for the Davis, CA, accession, there were 5 regimes (5 and 10 C cold periods alternating with 15 through 25 C warm periods) that always supported optimum germination. Light-colored achenes with pappus tended to have optimal germination at colder temperatures, and the dark-colored achenes at higher temperatures when seeds were tested immediately after harvest.

Herbicides commonly used to control Cyperus spp. are not completely effective against Kyllinga spp. Field trials were conducted on North Carolina golf courses to evaluate green and false-green kyllinga control at fairway and rough golf course mowing heights. Treatments included single and sequential applications of bentazon (1.12 kg ai/ha), halosulfuron (0.07 kg/ha), MSMA (2.24 kg/ ha), and trifloxysulfuron (0.03 kg/ha); imazaquin (0.56 kg/ha) with and without MSMA; and two rates of sulfentrazone (0.42 and 0.56 kg/ha). Green or false-green kyllinga control was equivalent at fairway and rough mowing heights. Halosulfuron applied sequentially, imazaquin with and without MSMA, and trifloxysulfuron applied singly or sequentially, controlled green and false-green kyllinga 89 to 99% 10 wk after initial treatment (WAIT). However, Kyllinga spp. control decreased over the course of the study regardless of herbicide treatment. By one year after treatment (YAIT), bentazon or MSMA alone controlled green or false-green kyllinga 50% or less. No difference was observed in green or false-green kyllinga control between imazaquin vs. imazaquin plus MSMA, sulfentrazone 0.42 vs. 0.56 kg/ha, or trifloxysulfuron one vs. two applications at any rating date. Green kyllinga was seemingly more difficult to control than false-green kyllinga. Sequential applications of bentazon and MSMA, single applications of halosulfuron, sulfentrazone applied at 0.42 and 0.56 kg/ha, and single and sequential applications of trifloxysulfuron controlled false-green kyllinga at least 10% greater than green kyllinga at 1 YAIT. Further research is needed to assess the potential variation among Cyperus and Kyllinga spp. response to herbicides.

Field studies were conducted over 3 yr at two locations to evaluate the effects of glyphosate rate and application timing on barnyardgrass control, seed production, seed viability, and seedbank density the year after herbicide application in glyphosate-resistant corn. Glyphosate was applied at 0, 112, 225, 450, 675, or 900 g ai/ha when barnyardgrass was at the two-, four-, or six-leaf stage of growth. Visual estimates of percent control increased whereas density, dry weight, seed production, and seedbank density the year after treatment decreased as the rate of glyphosate was increased from 0 to 450 g/ha. Increasing the rate of glyphosate from 450 to 900 g/ha (registered rate) had no further effect on any measured parameter. Seed viability was not affected by glyphosate rate nor application timing. Corn yield declined only at a glyphosate rate of 225 g/ha and below. Barnyardgrass control improved as application was delayed to the six-leaf stage because this weed had an extended period of emergence. There was no interaction between glyphosate rate and application timing on any parameter, and yield was not affected by glyphosate-application timing. The use of extremely low glyphosate rates (112 or 225 g/ha) resulted in reduced corn yields, increased barnyardgrass seed production, and seedbank density the year after application.

A population of common waterhemp in northeast Kansas was confirmed resistant to protoporphyrinogen oxidase (protox)-inhibiting herbicides in 2001. In 2002, seeds were collected from 28 sites in a 16-km radius surrounding the site where resistance was confirmed to determine the extent of protox resistance in common waterhemp populations throughout the area. In addition, common waterhemp response to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides and glyphosate was determined. At least one common waterhemp plant among the 48 plants tested from each of 10 sites was acifluorfen-resistant. These sites were randomly scattered throughout the sampling area, and resistance may have resulted from seed or pollen movement or independent development. Acifluorfen-resistant common waterhemp plants were initially injured by acifluorfen, but plants began recovering from injury within 14 days after treatment (DAT). All sites contained at least two common waterhemp plants with imazethapyr resistance, whereas plants from all sites were susceptible to glyphosate. Because acifluorfen- and imazethapyr-resistant common waterhemp populations are found in northeastern Kansas, protox-inhibiting and ALS-inhibiting herbicides may not provide common waterhemp control.

Farmer observations and previous studies indicated that reductions in soybean yield caused by the soybean cyst nematode (SCN) are greater when other stresses, biotic or abiotic, are present. Also, it has been reported that the effect of SCN on soybean growth depended on factors such as soil pH, soil texture, and herbicides. Although postemergence herbicides may adversely affect soybean metabolism, acifluorfen can reduce SCN infection. The objective of the present study was to determine the main and interactive effects of SCN egg population density (SCND), soil pH, soil texture, and the application of the herbicides acifluorfen, glyphosate, and imazethapyr on early soybean growth. Greenhouse studies assessed different combinations of these factors for 65 d after planting. No interactions were observed for any of the main effects. Soil pH and texture did not affect soybean growth. SCND was the only main effect that explained soybean growth reductions. The effect of SCND on soybean growth was exhibited as 15–50% decreases of leaf area index (LAI) and dry weight in all cases, but reductions in plant height also were observed. No relationship between SCND and the number of SCN eggs recovered at the end of the experiment was observed. Herbicides did not reduce soybean growth, although acifluorfen consistently caused the highest soybean injury reaching 18–20% from 1–14 days after application (DAA). At 50 DAA, acifluorfen injury was negligible, and soybean LAI and dry weight did not differ from the nontreated control. These results indicated that the effect of SCN on soybean growth was not directly affected by the other evaluated main effects. Therefore, trends observed in the field that suggested interactions between those factors are likely the result of other factors not considered in the present study or to more complex relationships between factors analyzed in the present study and other elements present in the field.

Field trials were conducted at five sites from 2001 through 2003 to determine the influence on sugarbeet and weeds of repeated broadcast and banded reduced rates of desmedipham plus phenmedipham, triflusulfuron, and clopyralid in combination with either 1.5 or 3% v/v methylated seed oil (MSO). Desmedipham plus phenmedipham, triflusulfuron, and clopyralid were applied POST three times at 5 to 7 d intervals at either 25, 50, 75, or 100% of a 180 plus 180 plus 18 plus 100 g ai/ha dosage (full rate). When averaged over all herbicide rates, crop injury was 6% greater, but common lambsquarters control was 5% higher, and crop yield was 15% greater with broadcast compared with banded herbicide application. In most situations, adding MSO at 3% rather than 1.5% did not improve weed control. Sugarbeet injury was lowest (11%) and the average weed control was 86% when herbicide rates (with 1.5% MSO) were 25% of the full rate (microrate). Applying an herbicide rate (with 1.5% MSO) that was 50% of the full rate (half rate) increased crop injury from 11% with the microrate to 18% with the half rate and elevated average weed control from 86% with the microrate to 92% with the half rate. Common lambsquarters control increased from 81% with the microrate to 89% with the half rate. Sugarbeet root yield was 23 t/ha when no herbicide was used, 48 t/ha with the microrate, and 49 t/ha with the half rate compared with 54 t/ha when the full rate was applied without MSO. Increasing herbicide rates to 75% of the full rate (three-quarter rate) (with 1.5% MSO) increased crop injury to 27% and average weed control to 96%. Applying 1.5% MSO to the full rate increased crop injury to 35% with no improvement in average weed control over that achieved with the full rate without MSO.

Partial seed retention line #23(‘PSR23’) cuphea is a hybrid of Cuphea viscosissima × C. lanceolata. It is a new, spring-planted, annual, potential oilseed crop that is highly susceptible to interference by weeds because of its slow growth during spring and early summer. Grass weeds are controlled easily in this broadleaf crop, but broadleaf weeds are an appreciable problem. Consequently, several broadleaf herbicides were screened for tolerance by ‘PSR23’ cuphea. Broadleaf herbicides to which cuphea showed tolerance in a spray cabinet and a greenhouse were tested in a field setting for 2 yr. Field tolerance was considered as absence of negative impact (P > 0.05) both years to any of four measured traits: overall vigor, dry weight, stand density, and time to anthesis. Cuphea showed tolerance in the field to three soil-applied herbicides (ethalfluralin, isoxaflutole, and trifluralin) and one postemergence herbicide (mesotrione). A few combinations of soil-applied and postemergence herbicides did not damage cuphea. These combinations were ethalfluralin followed by (fb) mesotrione, isoxaflutole fb imazethapyr, and isoxaflutole fb mesotrione. Availability of these herbicides for use in cuphea production may facilitate the domestication and acceptance of this new crop.

KIH-485 is an experimental herbicide being evaluated for preemergence weed control in corn. Field experiments were conducted in Burleson County, Texas, in 2003 and 2004 to compare weed control, corn tolerance, and corn yield with various rates of KIH-485 or S-metolachlor. Each herbicide was applied in single preemergence applications at four rates, or in combination with atrazine. KIH-485 at 500 g ai/ha provided better Texas panicum control than S-metolachlor by 9 WAT. KIH-485 or S-metolachlor treatments controlled Palmer amaranth at least 91% at all evaluation dates. In 2003, no other treatment controlled velvetleaf better than 500 g/ha KIH-485. The following year, all KIH-485 rates above 125 g/ha controlled velvetleaf better than any rate of S-metolachlor alone. Moreover, KIH-485 controlled all weed species as good as or better than S-metolachlor plus atrazine, regardless of KIH-485 rate. There was no significant corn injury observed, and grain yield reflected the effects of weed control.

Field studies were conducted near Marianna, FL during 1999 and 2000 to evaluate weed control and peanut response to PPI treatments of diclosulam alone, PRE treatments of flumioxazin alone, and in systems with POST commercial standard herbicides. Diclosulam and flumioxazin alone did not control sicklepod. Paraquat plus bentazon plus 2,4-DB applied early POST fb chlorimuron plus 2,4-DB or imazapic controlled sicklepod and pitted morningglory at least 83%. These treatments were equal to or greater than diclosulam or flumioxazin with or without paraquat plus bentazon plus 2,4-DB, or the same system fb 2,4-DB mid POST. Peanut yield was similar when treated with diclosulam or flumioxazin fb the standard early POST (EPOST) system, flumioxazin alone, or imazapic alone. Peanut treated with diclosulam alone or paraquat plus bentazon plus 2,4-DB fb 2,4-DB yielded lower than other treatments because of late-emerging Florida beggarweed. Peanut treated with chlorimuron, regardless of which soil-applied herbicide was used, yielded less due to a longer period of interference from Florida beggarweed, sicklepod, and pitted morningglory because of the timing of chlorimuron application (60 d after planting).

Three field trials were conducted in south Georgia under irrigated conditions in 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 to evaluate the effects of imazapic residues on oat growth and yield. Imazapic at 70 g ai/ha was applied during the first weeks of May, June, July, August, and September to bare soil. No additional tillage was performed after the herbicide application. Oats (cv. Coker 227) were planted the first week of October. Oat plant populations were not reduced by any timing of imazapic. Generally, oat plant heights and forage yields were reduced when imazapic was applied in August and September (1–2 mo before planting). Grain yields were not reduced by any timing of imazapic. Results of these tests suggest that the current 18-mo rotational restriction for oats following an application of imazapic could be reduced to 4 mo.

A field study was conducted in 2002 and 2003 to evaluate the effect of clomazone at 448 g ai/ha plus bensulfuron at 10, 21, 31, and 42 g ai/ha or halosulfuron at 13, 26, 39, and 53 g ai/ha on rice. Herbicide treatments were impregnated onto urea fertilizer and applied at rooting (AR) in a water-seeded production system. Comparison treatments included clomazone AR followed by bensulfuron at 42 g/ha or halosulfuron at 53 g/ha POST. At 7 d after AR (DAAR), rice foliar bleaching decreased from 42% with a single application of clomazone to 23 to 30% with any rate of bensulfuron or halosulfuron impregnated with clomazone. Barnyardgrass and broadleaf signalgrass control did not decrease with the addition of bensulfuron or halosulfuron to clomazone. A single application of clomazone did not control rice flatsedge at 28 DAAR; however, rice flatsedge control was greater than 76% for all bensulfuron and halosulfuron treatments at 28 DAAR. There were no differences in rice yield among herbicide treatments.

Field experiments were conducted from 2000 to 2002 at the Southern Maryland Research and Education Facility located in Upper Marlboro, MD to evaluate PPI and preemergence/prior-to-transplanting (PRE-T) applications of sulfentrazone in combination with clomazone or pendimethalin on crop injury and yield of Maryland-type tobacco. Pendimethalin was also evaluated alone. The highest levels of tobacco injury in 2000 occurred 3 wk after treatment (WAT) with PPI applications of sulfentrazone plus pendimethalin at 0.35 + 0.84 and 0.42 + 0.84 kg ai/ha, averaging 37 and 28%, respectively. In 2001, PPI applications of sulfentrazone plus clomazone at 0.42 + 0.84 kg/ha or sulfentrazone plus pendimethalin at 0.42 + 0.84 kg/ha caused 18 and 12% injury, respectively, 3 WAT. Injury in 2002 with all treatments averaged 7% or less 3 WAT. Greater rainfall through 3 WAT occurred in 2000 than in 2001 or 2002, likely contributing to the higher injury in 2000. Tobacco yields were generally similar among herbicide treatments in 2000 and 2001, and tobacco yields for all herbicide treatments were similar in 2002. The quality index was similar in 2000 and 2001, and varied slightly in 2002 among all herbicide treatments. Although a lower price was calculated for the nontreated controls, price did not vary among most herbicide treatments each year. This research shows that injury to Maryland-type tobacco can occur with sulfentrazone in combination with clomazone or pendimethalin, particularly when incorporated, and when high rainfall occurs soon after transplanting. However, injury is transient and generally has no negative influence on tobacco yield, quality, or price.

Field studies were conducted in 1999 and 2000 at seven locations in south Texas to evaluate flufenacet plus isoxaflutole for weed control and corn tolerance. Palmer amaranth control with flufenacent plus isoxaflutole was variable, with no greater than 60% control at one location and greater than 95% control at another. The poor control at the one location was probably due to lack of rainfall for 3 to 4 wk after corn was planted. Flufenacet plus isoxaflutole at 0.56 or 0.7 kg/ha controlled Texas panicum at least 80%, whereas flufenacet plus isoxaflutole rates lower than 0.56 kg/ha provided variable control (55 to 99%). Flufenacet plus isoxaflutole at 0.35 and 0.49 kg/ha controlled pitted morningglory at least 83%. Corn stunting (3 to 16%) with flufenacet plus isoxaflutole was noted at the one location where the soil sand content was greater than 80% and moisture was received within 48 h of herbicide application. With few exceptions, corn weed control and yield with flufenacet plus isoxaflutole combinations were generally comparable to those observed for the atrazine and acetochlor standard treatments.

There is a limited number of herbicides available for weed control in adzuki bean production in Ontario, Canada. A total of six field trials were conducted in Ontario over a 2-yr period (2003 and 2004) to evaluate tolerance of adzuki bean to preplant incorporated (PPI) application of EPTC (4,400 and 8,800 g ai/ha), trifluralin (1,155 and 2,310 g ai/ha), dimethenamid (1,250 and 2,500 g ai/ha), S-metolachlor (1,600 and 3,200 g ai/ha), and imazethapyr (75 and 150 g ai/ha). All treatments, including the nontreated control, were maintained weed free during the growing season. EPTC and dimethenamid caused as much as 39% visual crop injury and reduced plant height, shoot dry weight, and yield up to 34, 63, and 38%, respectively. Maturity was delayed with the application of EPTC and dimethenamid. Trifluralin caused as much as 9% visual crop injury and decreased plant height up to 11%. There was no effect of trifluralin on shoot dry weight, seed moisture content, and yield. S-metolachlor caused as much as 19% visual crop injury, decreased plant height up to 23%, and reduced shoot dry weight up to 29%. Yield was not affected at the low rate but was decreased 19% at the high rate. There was no effect of S-metolachlor on maturity. Imazethapyr caused up to 6% visual injury but had no adverse effects on plant height, shoot dry weight, seed moisture content, and yield except at the high rate, which caused a 15% reduction in plant height. Based on these results, trifluralin and imazethapyr applied PPI have an adequate margin of crop safety for weed management in adzuki bean production in Ontario.